Hebrews 11:3
"...By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what was seen was not made out of what was visible."
Ecclesiastes 8:17
"...No-one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it."
Friday, February 6, 2009
“What do I have to do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31
"...They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household...’ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptised."
"...They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household...’ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptised."
"What of those who do not have the chance to hear about Jesus?
Titus 2:11-12
"...For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Romans 1:19-20
"...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse..."
"...For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Romans 1:19-20
"...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse..."
“What about other religions?”
Romans 2:14-15
"...Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing now defending them. ..."
Acts 4:12
"...Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
"...Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing now defending them. ..."
Acts 4:12
"...Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Monday, February 2, 2009
"Did Jesus really rise from the dead?"
Mathew 27:62-66
"...The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
... ‘Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard."
Mathew 28: 6 "...He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Mathew 28:12-15
"...When the chief priests has met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say,’ His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this day."
NB. A Roman guard was typically made up of 4-12 soldiers, the penalty for falling asleep while on duty was crucifixion or being burnt to death. The Roman centurian's reputation was a reflection of the strength of the Roman Empire at the time. The tomb was also sealed with a Roman seal and the penalty for breaking the seal without proper authority was crucifixion upsidedown. Sources: McDowell, J. The Resurrection Factor, Amersham-on-the-Hill, England, 1993, Clifford, R. The Case for the Empty Tomb, 2nd ed. Albatross Books, Australia, 1993
The ultimate proof that Jesus rose from the dead is revealed by the plain fact that the Romans could not produce the body in the face of Christian claims Jesus rose from the dead. If the body was still in the tomb those against this new faith (both Romans and the Jewish leaders) could have easily proved the apostles wrong and stopped the spread of Christianity in its infancy. And our modern day calendar system would not be based on His birthday!
"...The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
... ‘Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard."
Mathew 28: 6 "...He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Mathew 28:12-15
"...When the chief priests has met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say,’ His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this day."
NB. A Roman guard was typically made up of 4-12 soldiers, the penalty for falling asleep while on duty was crucifixion or being burnt to death. The Roman centurian's reputation was a reflection of the strength of the Roman Empire at the time. The tomb was also sealed with a Roman seal and the penalty for breaking the seal without proper authority was crucifixion upsidedown. Sources: McDowell, J. The Resurrection Factor, Amersham-on-the-Hill, England, 1993, Clifford, R. The Case for the Empty Tomb, 2nd ed. Albatross Books, Australia, 1993
The ultimate proof that Jesus rose from the dead is revealed by the plain fact that the Romans could not produce the body in the face of Christian claims Jesus rose from the dead. If the body was still in the tomb those against this new faith (both Romans and the Jewish leaders) could have easily proved the apostles wrong and stopped the spread of Christianity in its infancy. And our modern day calendar system would not be based on His birthday!
"Is Jesus the only way to God?"
John 14:6
"...Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.’ "
"...Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.’ "
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"Did Jesus really claim to be the Son of God?"
John 4:25-26 (Jesus having a drink by the well)
"...The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us’. Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’ "
Luke 22:70 (Jesus trial)
...They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
Mathew 26:63-64 (Jesus trial)
...The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
John 10:30
"...I and the Father are one."
John 5:17-18
...Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God, his own Father, making himself equal with God.’
John 19:7
..."We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God".
John 6:35-40
...Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I have told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up on the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.'
"...The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us’. Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’ "
Luke 22:70 (Jesus trial)
...They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
Mathew 26:63-64 (Jesus trial)
...The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
John 10:30
"...I and the Father are one."
John 5:17-18
...Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at work to this very day, and I, too, am working.’ For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God, his own Father, making himself equal with God.’
John 19:7
..."We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God".
John 6:35-40
...Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I have told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up on the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.'
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